Keeping Collierville neat

Collierville is one of the best-looking communities in the Mid-South. But is the town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen committed to keeping it that way?

A decision made by the board during Monday night's meeting does give some cause for concern.

By a 4-2 vote, the board approved the first phase of the Villages at Porter Farms, a development that's expected to eventually include 800 homes.

The board didn't require the developers to bury the project's power lines underground. And the board agreed to accept payment from the developer instead of requiring land within the subdivision to be set aside for park space.

Underground power lines might be a bit harder to maintain, but they would help preserve the community's appearance. And it's debatable whether future residents of Porter Farms will have adequate access to park space.

Allowing cash in lieu of reserved park land could set a bad precedent in which developers ask for similar consideration for projects in other parts of town, too.

Collierville got where it is today by devising a set of rigorous development standards and sticking to them.